NAICS 516110 Quarterly Industry Report
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 516110Sector: Information (51)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 516110 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team analyzes digital advertising rates, audience metrics, and subscription conversion models to build valuation benchmarks for internet publishing businesses. This report on NAICS 516110 is updated quarterly to reflect shifts in digital media consumption and advertising market conditions.
Industry Definition & Overview
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting (NAICS 516110) encompasses establishments exclusively engaged in publishing and broadcasting content on the internet, providing textual, audio, and video content to online audiences. This code covers internet news publishers, online periodical and book publishers operating exclusively on the web, internet radio stations, video broadcast sites, podcast networks, and web-based entertainment platforms. Establishments classified here distribute content primarily through websites and apps rather than through traditional print, broadcast, or cable channels.
The industry has grown rapidly as advertising spending shifted from print and broadcast to digital channels. Revenue models include display advertising, programmatic ad sales, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, subscription paywalls, and premium membership tiers. Many internet publishers combine several of these streams to build sustainable business models. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[4] tracks employment data for the internet publishing and broadcasting subsector, which encompasses writers, editors, web developers, data analysts, and digital sales teams.
Competition for audience attention is intense, with thousands of publishers vying for clicks across news, entertainment, lifestyle, sports, and niche interest categories. Search engine algorithms and social media referral patterns heavily influence traffic volumes and advertising revenue. Establishments range from venture-backed digital media companies with hundreds of employees to solo bloggers and podcasters generating modest advertising income. Geographic concentration follows technology and media hubs, though remote-first operations have expanded beyond traditional coastal markets since 2020. The Census Bureau[5] tracks the broader information sector revenue data that includes these internet publishing operations.
What's Included in This Industry
- Internet news publishing and digital journalism
- Online magazine and periodical publishing exclusively on the web
- Internet radio station streaming and podcast hosting
- Video content broadcasting through web platforms
- Blog network and content portal operations
- Display and programmatic digital advertising sales
- Subscription paywall and premium content management
- Social media content distribution and audience development
- Web-based gaming and entertainment content publishing
- Digital audio and video on-demand content delivery
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Information | 51 |
| Subsector | Broadcasting and Content Providers | 516 |
| Industry Group | Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | 5161 |
| NAICS Industry | Radio Broadcasting Stations | 51611 |
| National Industry | Radio Broadcasting Stations | 516110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 513110 | Newspaper Publishers | Newspaper publishers produce similar news content but distribute through print and hybrid channels rather than exclusively internet-based platforms |
| 513120 | Periodical Publishers | Periodical publishers produce magazines and journals through print and digital editions rather than web-exclusive publishing operations |
| 516210 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | Media streaming services distribute video and audio content through subscription platforms that compete for the same consumer entertainment time |
| 516120 | Television Broadcasting Stations | Television broadcasting stations deliver video programming through over-the-air transmission rather than the internet delivery model used by this code |
| 541810 | Advertising Agencies | Advertising agencies purchase digital display and programmatic ad placements from internet publishers on behalf of their brand clients |
| 518210 | Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | Data hosting providers supply the server infrastructure and content delivery networks that internet publishers depend on for site performance |
SBA Lending Summary
88
Total SBA Loans
$20.5M
Total Loan Volume
$232K
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.05%
Average Interest Rate
824
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[9] for NAICS 516110 is $47 million in average annual receipts, meaning establishments below this revenue threshold qualify as small businesses for federal programs. Internet publishers can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for content development, technology infrastructure, and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[11] support office facility acquisition. Most independent digital publishers generate well under the threshold.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raccoon Valley Bank | 16 | $11.4M | $713K |
| 2 | US Metro Bank | 8 | $2.2M | $280K |
| 3 | OakStar Bank | 8 | $2.0M | $250K |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank | 16 | $1.5M | $96K |
| 5 | Idaho Central CU | 8 | $1.1M | $140K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 516110?
NAICS 516110 covers establishments exclusively publishing or broadcasting content on the internet. This includes digital news sites, online-only magazines, internet radio stations, podcast networks, video content platforms, blog networks, and web-based entertainment sites.
How is NAICS 516110 different from 513110?
NAICS 513110 covers newspaper publishers that may distribute through print, digital, or both channels, while 516110 covers establishments publishing exclusively on the internet. A print newspaper with a website falls under 513110; a digital-only news outlet falls under 516110, per Census Bureau classifications[12].
What is the SBA size standard for internet publishers?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 516110 at $47 million in average annual receipts over the preceding five fiscal years. Businesses below this threshold qualify as small for federal lending and contracting, per the SBA size standards table[9].
What NAICS codes are related to internet publishing?
Related codes include 513110 (newspaper publishers), 513120 (periodical publishers), 516210 (media streaming), 516120 (television broadcasting), and 541810 (advertising agencies). Each connects through content competition, advertising relationships, or distribution infrastructure.
What industries are closely related to internet publishers?
Closely related industries include newspaper publishing (513110), media streaming (516210), advertising agencies (541810), cloud hosting (518210), and custom software development (541511). Each supports or competes with internet publishing operations.
What activities are included in internet publishing?
Activities include digital content creation, news gathering, web video and audio broadcasting, podcast production, programmatic ad sales, subscription management, audience analytics, and content distribution. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[4] tracks employment in internet publishing.
Can internet publishers get SBA loans?
Where are internet publishers concentrated in the United States?
New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. host the largest concentrations of internet publishing establishments. Remote work models have expanded the geographic footprint of smaller operations beyond traditional media hubs, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[13].
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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